40 Years of Witnessing Tennis Champions Up-Close, American Legendary Coach Sends Warning Ward To Coco Gauff’s Opponents Ahead of US Open

The build-up to the final grand slam of the year couldn’t have been any better! As we slowly get closer to the US Open, which is slated to begin a week from today, all the doyens of the tennis world descended in Cincinnati to take part in the Western & Southern Open. The final Masters 1000 event before the all-important US Open, this is the perfect place for players to build momentum heading into New York. Coco Gauff did precisely that – she won her first WTA 1000 title as she clinched the Cincinnati Masters crown in impressive fashion.

Legendary American coach Brad Gilbert, who is currently working as a consultant for Coco Gauff as part of her coaching team, expressed his happiness after her memorable victory. However, this is not the first time Gilbert has tasted success in Cincinnati.

Coco Gauff becomes the latest addition in Brad Gilbert’s Cincinnati success saga

An ESPN commentator and a widely respected coach, Brad Gilbert was very successful on the court as well during his playing days. He won 20 ATP titles in his career, perhaps most notably the Cincinnati Open title in the year 1989. This was only the beginning of his tryst with Cincinnati. The great Andre Agassi won back-to-back Cincinnati Masters titles in 1995 and 1996 while being coached by Gilbert. Furthermore, Andy Roddick‘s Cincinnati Open triumph in 2003 came at a time when Brad Gilbert was working as his coach.

And now, Coco Gauff becomes the latest to taste Cincinnati Masters glory with the American coach. An elated Gilbert took to X (Twitter) to express his feelings while also backing Gauff’s chances heading into the US Open, “thanks 🙏 Cincy @CincyTennis for amazing 🤩 week, no tournament 🏟️ i’ve have been involved with in last 40 years been been better, i won in 89 @AndreAgassi won 95-6 @andyroddick in 2003 now @CocoGauff let’s go nyc 👊💪🙏👍😎”.

Nineteen-year-old Coco Gauff’s noticeable improvement in form is starting to show in her overwhelming performances in recent tournaments. Can the change in her coaching staff be responsible for this? Let’s delve deeper.

READ MORE: Coco Gauff Sends ‘Biggest Thank You’ Message to Her Pillars of Support After Clinching Prestigious Cincinnati Open Crown

Reshuffle in coaching personnel the reason behind Gauff’s newfound success? 

After parting ways with her Argentinian coach Diego Moyano in April this year, Coco Gauff spent a lot of time figuring out what the next step will be in her quest of finding a suitable coach for her. Gauff’s father worked as her coach up until the French Open, after which she appointed Spaniard Pere Riba as her new coach.

However, the teenager still seemed to lack the right rhythm on the court. Prior to the Citi Open in Washington DC earlier this month, Coco Gauff roped in Brad Gilbert, and there has been no looking back ever since.

She clinched the Citi Open title, reached the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open, and then won the Cincinnati Masters. Tennis icon Chris Evert lauded Gauff for this decision, which is clearly paying dividends.

With the experience of Brad Gilbert on her side, Gauff looks to be in prime position to win her maiden grand slam title at the upcoming US Open. Looking at the form she is in right now, the home favorite will certainly fancy her chances in New York!

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